Greenhouse operation system



Aug. 3 0, 1932, Q K, OWEN I v 1,875,126

GREENHOUSE OPERATION SYSTEM Filed April 25. 1929 f, i. ATYRNEYS.

Patented Aug. 30, 1932 PATENr' orifice ORLANDO K. owEN, or TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA., AssIGNoE To J. w. DAvIs COMPANY,

0F TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION GEEENHoUsE OPERATION SYSTEM Application led April 25,

This invention relates to a system of greenhouse operationvand apparatus therefor.

The chief object of this invention is to facilitate and yexpedite the growth of vegetation in greenhouses or the like by circulating therein carbon dioxide, and if desired some air, which carbon dioxide is readily available and very cheaply obtained in a non-deleterious form.

The chief feature of the invention consists in the utilization of flue gases obtained from the heating system of the greenhouse including purifying the iiue gases and then dis- -Y tributing the same in the greenhouse.

The full nature of the invention will lbe more fully understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description Y and claims.

The figure in the drawing is a diagram matic lay-out of a greenhouse 'with an associated heating plant and the apparatus of the "invention incorporated therewith.

In the drawing 10 indicates' an outline representation of a greenhouse around the walls of which in the usual manner are the heating coils 11 supplied by line 12 from boilers 13, said supply being controlled by the valves 14. The boilers may be of any desired type and the flue gases discharge to the breeching 15 and thence to the stack 16 in the customary manner.

The tap 17 from the breeching discharges into a purier which may be termed a scrubn ber 18. The discharge line 19 therefrom is controlled by valve 20. Y The scrubber contains coke and running water passes through it. It washes the flue gases.

A compressor of the reciprocating type 21 is associated with the reciprocating power 22 preferably operable by'steam from a line 23 Y also supplied by the boiler and controlled by valves 24. The compressor intake 25 not only communicates with the scrubber discharge but also communicates with 'an air intake 26 controlled by valve 27. The proper ieee. serieu No. 358,017.

flue gas may be circulated without any air:

The compresser serves to suck ordraw the Hue gases through the purifier or scrubber 18.

The compressor discharge 28 communicates either directly or indirectly with a head or :intake line 29.v The indirect communication includes an additionalscrubber 30 having 'the intake 31 and the ,discharge 32. Line 31 includes valve y33 and4 line 28 includes valve34 and line 32includes valve 132. The

`entire or main rcontrol valve 35`is located vin 'line.29.' The compressed air and flue gas -or either, hereinafter called the-compressed medium, is'fsupplied to line 28 and may be passed therefrom andforced through valve 33 and line 31 to'and through the scrubber A.

.30 and thence toline 29 through the discharge 32 and valve 35, the valve 311V being `closed.y If direct connection is desired ,valve is closed -and valve 34 is opened whereupon the compressed medium passes directlyl A from linef28 through valves 311 and 35 to the ,header intake 29.` Y

. Suitably supported within the greenhouse and positioned substantiallyomidway therein and extendingtransversely across the same' isa header 3 6 which rotatably supports a combination swivel and valve construction 37 from which extend the distributing lines of pipes '38.7 vThese extend longitudinally of .the greenhouse and transversely of the header. The outer end of the distributor pipe may be'rotatably supported by the bearing, hanger or support 39. The handletO of the -combination swivel valve not only serves asy `Ya control valve for controlling the fluid as 'to the' rate of dischargebut also constitutes van arrangementy whereby the distributing tube maybe' rotated, since it is pivotally supported, tothe desired position such that the ating outlets 41 therein have the predetermined directional discharge.

It is known that with proper combustion ilue gases contain a maximum of carbon dioxide CO2 and that the sulphur content of the coal generally is reduced to sulphur dioxide. Y The scrubber washes the flue gases so that there is obtainedv a gas that is substantially free from tar and ash. The result is that the nitrogen content remains approximately the same in volume ksince ,but little ofit is dissolved and the sulphur -diexidecontent may or may not be changed. Sulphur. fumes are generally considered a germicidal or fumigating agent, and therefore 'a small portion of sulphur dioxide is 'not believed' objectionable, but desirable. The Vvemployment of a compressor serves to impart suIicient energy to the system so that the desired distribution of the compressed medium obing plant growth in a greenhouse consisting of burning uelfor simultaneously generati ing greenhouse heat and flue gas, scrubbing the flue gas' by induction, then scrubbing the flue gas by compression, and then liberating thel multiple scrubbed gas inthe greenhouse.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto af ixed my signature, Y o l ORLANDO K .-owEN.'

,tainsthrough theemployment of the distr-ibuting apparatushereinbefore described;

v The carbon dioxide content it is well known wis the chief plant food derived from air.- 'The a @employment of clean flue gases therefor sup- Y plies the' germicidal or fumig'ating agent,

sulphur dioxide,andthe growth agent, cari bon dioxide. It has also been found thatvthe vso circulation? .of this compressed 'medium,

ywhich:circulation is obtained by reason of content therein.` In other words the discharge of this compressed supply -Inedium .serves-,toi keep the air inth'e greenhouse in v.a constant sta-te' ofmotionl thereby resulting -in -better plantgrowth.V 'l

The invention claimed is :V

the compressionfimparted thereto, and the f release 'thereoi` also induces the growth `of. @healthy 'vegetation bysecuring within the il V.greenhouse uniform: circulationvof the air 35' ricol 1."'I`he processo commercially accelerat- I ingplant growth in a greenhouseconsisting ywoit'flburning fuel" for simultaneously generating greenhouse heat and'flue gas, scrubbing f `4theilue gas, vadding air to -thevscrubbed gas,

4. The process of commerciallyl accelerat- "compressing 'the' air and gas mixture,` and then liberatingrthe compressed .air and gaysv mixture in the .-greenhouse. 1

'The'process of commerciallyaccelerat-v 'I :ing plant growth in agreenhouseconsisting of Vbur-ning fuel f for simultaneously generA ating greenhouse heat andy flue gas, scrub- Y .bing the flue gas, adding air to the scrubbed I 'y i binglth'eecompressed air and gasmixture,

. and thenflberatillg the C Ollpressed scrubbed il' i Y Y Y the Ycomp,ressing the air and gas mixture, scrub- Yair 'and gas y'muture 'inthe greenhousei greenhouse heat and -flue gas, scrubbing .Y ue gas, adding .air to the scrubbed gas,

and 

